Middle Grades Education, Certification-only
Individuals who hold a BA degree but do not wish to pursue a master’s degree may elect to pursue a sequence of studies that will enable them to be eligible for recommendation for teacher certification. The Certification-Only program is designed for students with an undergraduate degree in one of the content fields (Science, History, Math, or English).
Certification Only is an option (not a degree program) which may be requested by a prospective candidate who holds a Bachelor’s and/or Master's degree from an accredited institution and prefers not to pursue a Master’s degree while seeking initial certification for grades 4-8 in one of the fields offered at Piedmont University. The Department Chair evaluates a candidate’s transcript and outlines a program of study necessary for the candidate to be recommended for MG certification in the applicant’s intended field of certification. A proposed program of study is designed to ensure depth in the content field, as well as meeting all requirements prescribed in the field of education, including Internship III. The proposed program is reviewed by the Department Chair and, if approved, serves as the advisement sheet for that candidate. All other procedures and requirements of the College of Education and Piedmont University apply.
The candidate must maintain a GPA of 3.0 in all coursework completed for certification. In order for Piedmont University to recommend certification, at least 27 semester hours must be taken at Piedmont University. The candidate must also pass the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) Program Admission Assessments (or file exemption based upon meeting the required minimum score on the SAT, ACT, or GRE) and the middle grades content-area GACE test(s) prior to Internship III. Transfer credits 10 years or older are not accepted. Completion of requirements for certification-only does not lead to a degree. Completion of the program leads to recommendation for a Georgia certificate in middle grades education.
Course requirements:
(Certification-only candidates may take graduate or undergraduate courses.)
| EDUC 1199 | Introduction to Education | 3 |
| EDUC 2250 | Media and Technology for Educators | 3 |
| | OR | |
| EDUC 6601 | Instructional Media and Technology for Teachers | 3 |
| | | |
| EDUC 2000 | Introduction to Professional Practice | 3 |
| | OR | |
| EDUC 5000 | Introduction to Professional Practice | 3 |
| | | |
| EDMG 3331 | Reading Methods, 4-8 | 3 |
| | OR | |
| EDUC 6631 | Reading Methods | 3 |
| | | |
| EDUC 3337 | Teaching Reading and Writing in the Content Areas | 3 |
| | OR | |
| EDUC 5537 | Teaching Reading and Writing in the Content Areas | 3 |
| | | |
| EDMG 3345 | Teaching in the Middle School | 3 |
| | OR | |
| EDMG 6645 | Advanced Teaching in the Middle School | 3 |
| | | |
| EDUC 3355 | Exceptional Children | 3 |
| | OR | |
| EDUC 6655 | Exceptional Children | 3 |
| | | |
| EDUC 4495 | Educational Assessment for All Learners | 3 |
| | OR | |
| EDUC 6600 | Educational Assessment | 3 |
| | | |
| EDUC 4401 | The Multicultural Classroom | 3 |
| | OR | |
| EDUC 7703 | Social, Cultural, and Ethical Perspectives of Education | 3 |
| | | |
| EDUC 3307 | Learning and Cognition | 3 |
| | OR | |
| EDUC 6607 | Fundamentals of Learning and Cognition | 3 |
| | | |
| EDMG 3361 | Internship I, 4-8 | 3 |
| | OR | |
| EDUC 7740 | Advanced Research to Practice in Gifted Education | 3 |
These courses must be taken as a block and constitute the professional semester.
| EDUC 4498 | Senior Seminar: Reflection and Application | 3 |
| | OR | |
| EDUC 4499 | Internship III | 6 |
| | | |
| EDMG 7742 | Internship II (4-8) | 5 |
| | OR | |
| | Taken Consecutively | |
| | OR | |
| EDMG 7744 | Advanced Internship (4-8) | 5 |
| EDMG 7745 | Advanced Internship (4-8) | 5 |
| | Taken Consecutively | |
Program Completion Requirements:
- Admission to Teacher Education
- Pass appropriate GACE content test(s) in both content areas
- Minimum course hours completed with 3.0 GPA or better
- Successful completion of required field experiences